Philippine Catholic priests leaving the ministry to marry
Jan 27, 2005
More than 200 Filipino Catholic priests have left the ministry over the last two decades to get married
More than 200 Filipino Catholic priests have left the ministry over the last two decades to get married, a church official in the Philippines said on Wednesday.
“They have found more peace having a family,†said Archbishop Oscar Cruz, a member of a CBCP committee investigating priests asking for dispensation.
Cruz said there was nothing wrong with clergymen leaving the ministry to get married because “priests are moral human beingsâ€.
He, however, said under the church’s rules, only priests, who are 40-years-old and older are allowed to file a petition for dispensation.
Stung by accusations of sexual misconduct by priests, the CBCP was set to impose stringent sanctions against prelates found guilty of immorality.
Bishop Fernando Capalla, CBCP president, said bishops have been given a free hand to impose sanctions on erring members of the clergy, with expulsion being the maximum penalty.
According to the CBCP, more than 200 priests in the country have been investigated for sexual misconduct over the last two decades.
dpa
“They have found more peace having a family,†said Archbishop Oscar Cruz, a member of a CBCP committee investigating priests asking for dispensation.
Cruz said there was nothing wrong with clergymen leaving the ministry to get married because “priests are moral human beingsâ€.
He, however, said under the church’s rules, only priests, who are 40-years-old and older are allowed to file a petition for dispensation.
Stung by accusations of sexual misconduct by priests, the CBCP was set to impose stringent sanctions against prelates found guilty of immorality.
Bishop Fernando Capalla, CBCP president, said bishops have been given a free hand to impose sanctions on erring members of the clergy, with expulsion being the maximum penalty.
According to the CBCP, more than 200 priests in the country have been investigated for sexual misconduct over the last two decades.
dpa